Success! Loun from Cambodia raised $398 to fund cataract surgery.

Loun has returned home after a successful operation. As per his doctor’s instructions, he had surgery in one eye, and will need to return in a few weeks to have surgery on the other eye. Loun’s vision has been restored, and he will be able to work and go about his daily life with improved vision. His doctor looks forward to seeing him again in a couple weeks.

He says, “I am very happy that I can see everything clearly again so I can do my work and go outside by myself.”

Loun has returned home after a successful operation. As per his doctor's instructions, he had surgery in one eye, and will need to return in...

Read more

November 8, 2018

Loun is a fisherman from Cambodia. He has three daughters, five sons, and ten grandchildren. He likes to listen to monks pray on the radio.

A year ago, Loun developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurry vision and photophobia. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside.

When Loun learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for five hours seeking treatment. On November 8, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $398 procedure.

His daughter says, “I am unhappy that my father cannot see well. I hope the surgery is a success.”

Loun is a fisherman from Cambodia. He has three daughters, five sons, and ten grandchildren. He likes to listen to monks pray on the radio.
...

Loun's Timeline

Loun received treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients with cataracts experience decreased vision, discomfort, and irritation. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing functional blindness. These changes in the lens commonly occur with increasing age and therefore affect elderly people. Cataracts can also be congenital or traumatic.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

The decreased vision from cataracts can cause functional blindness. This makes it difficult for the patient to conduct daily activities. Patients often need a family member to help guide and care for them.
If the patient is elderly, this often affects a young child in the family. When a grandmother needs help getting around, a young child is often assigned to help with her daily tasks. That child cannot go to school.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

In many countries in the developing world, surgical services are inadequate. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain, including cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services.

Process

Impact on patient's life

Risks and side-effects

Accessibility

Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide. Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and place a clear lens implant in its place.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

A patient's vision can improve to 20/20 within one day after the surgery.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Cataract surgery is highly effective and carries a low risk.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Cataract surgery is available in most areas of Cambodia. However, free surgery is not as widely available.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some debilitating effects of cataracts can be improved with glasses. When the cataract becomes mature, however, the only definitive treatment is surgical.